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ABSTRACT
In the investigation of the parasites of fresh water snails (pila ovata), Seventy snails were collected from Ikhoro River and Kogi River respectively. 40 specimens of pila ovata were sampled from Ikhoro River while 30 were collected from Kogi River. Of the 70 specimens collected, 14 snails were infected (9 from Ikoro River and 5 from Kogi River) with parasite trematode larval staages (cyst, cercaria, sporocyst) and mites, giving a total parasite prevalence of 21.4%. Parasite (sporocyst) had the overall mean intensity of 4±0.0, infecting 5 specimens of Pila ovata while cercaria accounted for the lowest mean intensity of 1±0.0, infecting 2 specimens of Pila ovata. Sporocyst accounted for the highest prevalence of 7.7%, followed by mites 6.2%, cyst 4.7% and cercaria 3.1%. In addition, the rate of infection among the infected snails was relatively high however, the presence of mites in the snail could result in a decline in the trematode population. Pila ovata serves as an intermediate host to a yet to be identified trematode, hence further studies should be carried to determine the zoonotic status of the parasite.
